Legends of the Masters

MARTIAL ARTS TRANSPORT US TO THE REALMS OF LEGENDS

Every day in dojos and training halls, fantastic stories of history’s martial arts heroes are told. Tales of men and women who overpower wild beasts, walk unharmed through a barrage of swords, or single-handedly defeat scores of attackers—they all captivate our imagination and our sense of marvel.

Whether presented orally, on screen, or by written word, these legends remain a key element of our collective martial arts culture and naturally inspire wonder about where the facts end and the fiction begins.

No stories are more gripping than those surrounding the founders and great masters of modern-day martial arts.

This book looks at twelve of the greatest martial arts legends of all time, retelling their common historical lore, examining the known facts, suggesting possible reasons for their longevity, and discussing the key functions that these legends have served martial artists both historically and today.

Bodhidharma: A Zen Monk’s Journey to the East

Zhang Sanfeng: The Founding of Internal Martial Arts

Morihei Ueshiba: The Quest for Ultimate Peace

Ng Mui & Yan Yongchun: The Dual Founders of Wing Chun

Nai Khanom Tom: The Hero of Ayutthaya Fights for Freedom

Choi Hong-Hi: Leading Korea from the Ashes of War

Miyamoto Musashi: A Swordsman Meets His Greatest Foe

Helio Gracie: Grapplers from the East and West Meet

Bruce Lee: Fighting for the Freedom to Teach Kung Fu

Bui Thi Xuan: The Swordswoman and the Tiger

Gogen Yamaguchi: Returning from the Gulag

Masutatsu Oyama: Taking on the Wild

“Vivid . . . profound . . . plausible . . . be inspired.”

—Shotokan Karate Portal

Augustus John Roe is an author, linguist, and instructor of traditional Vietnamese martial arts. For more than a decade, he has lived and trained in Asia. During this time Augustus has worked on numerous television shows, books, magazines and academic projects documenting local cultures and martial arts practices.

Augustus has a passion for language; he writes fiction, non-fiction and works as a freelance editor. His academic achievements include a master’s degree in martial arts studies and a Cambridge delta qualification in language teaching. Alongside traditional Vietnamese martial arts, Augustus had trained in tae kwon do, wing chun, Brazilian jiu jitsu, arnis, muay thai, boxing, and white crane kung fu. He currently lives with his wife and children in Vietnam’s capital city, Hanoi.